Attachment for dental instruments.



A. F. LUZZI.

ATTACHMENT FOR DENTAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED r58 e. 1918 1,285,273. I luTented Nov. 19, 1918.

INVEN TOR AUGUST F. LUZZI, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

ATTACHMENT FOR DENTAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

Application filed February 6, 1918. Serial No. 215,598.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST F. LUzzr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of-Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Dental Instruments, of which the following is a specification,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an attachment for dental instruments.

The object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character described designed to be secured to the hand piece of the ordinary dental drill for the purpose of protecting the tongue of the patient while the lower teeth are being operated upon, so as to prevent the tongue from being lacerated by the drill or grinding disk.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, arrange ment of parts and use, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein The figure shows a perspective view of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1, designates the hand piece of a dental drill, and the numeral 2, indicates the grinding disk, which operates upon the teeth being treated. This disk is of considerable diameter, and when the lower teeth are being operated upon, it is liable to come in contact with the tongue and lacerate the same. For the purpose of preventing this, I have provided a tongue guard, which is secured to the hand piece by means of a suitable clamp 3, which'is formed of flexible material, and clamps around said hand piece. This clamp is formed into an extending arm 4, whose free end carries oppositely disposed, laterally extending wings 5, 5, spaced a suflicient distance from copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the disk 2, so as not to contact therewith, and the ends of the wings have a slight outward curve, so as to readily engage under the tongue and hold it spaced from the disk, while the same is in operation.

While the lower teeth on one side of the mouth are being operated upon, one of the wings will perform its required function, and when the lower teeth on the other side of the mouth are being operated upon, the other wing will operate to protect the tongue as described.

The attachment may be readily removed from the hand piece when its use is not re quired. and may also be readily attached when it is desired to use the same. To facilitate the removal and attachment of the device, the clamp 3 has been provided with a thumb piece 6. When it is desired to remove the attachment, the disk 2 is first removed in the usual way, and then by pressure exerted against said thumb piece, the clamp is gradually forced oil of the hand piece; and said thumb piece forms a convenient grip when it is desired to force the clamp back on to the hand piece to bring the attachment into position for use.

What I claim is An attachment for dental grinding instruments including a member adapted to be detachably secured to the hand piece of said instrument, an arm extending from said member and oppositely disposed ,wings extending laterally from the free end of arm, and whose ends are deflected outwardly from the disk of said instrument.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST F. LUZZI.

Witnesses:

JAS. W. OLIVER, IRENE BRUNS.

the Commissioner 01 Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

